ICMAC Competition Rules

1. Dress Code
2. Registration & Opening Ceremony
3. Order of performance
4. The salute for empty hand forms
5. The salute with weapons
6. Skill levels
7. Competition Area for forms
8. Time limits for forms
9. Penalties and deductions for forms
10. Forms Categories by Age and Style
11. Awarding Medals
12. Grand Champion Competition
13. Sensing Hands (Push Hands –Tui Shou)
14. Light-Contact Continuous Sparring
15. Arbitrations

Chinese Martial Arts (CMA) have a rich history that spans thousands of years. During this time the CMA landscape has evolved into hundreds of different styles. While you can find common principles and techniques among the different systems, there are still great differences between the Northern and Southern schools and between the Internal and External styles. To present a fair competition for all athletes, we have established the following rules for ICMAC tournaments.

Wushu will be run under ICMAC Rules. This includes ring size, categories, skill levels and age groups. The only exception is compliance with the type of weapon used in international events. This is not an IWUF competition, and we ask all participants to abide by the categories listed on the ICMAC Division Sheet.

Unsportsmanlike conduct by any competitor, parent, or coach, or the use of abusive language, will result in the disqualification of the competitor with NO REFUND.

We reserve the right to refuse any registration.

1. Dress Code:

Traditional Chinese Martial Arts and Contemporary Wushu: Any cotton or silk Chinese-style uniform with frog buttons. Song Shan Shaolin, Wudang, and Southern Style (sleeveless) uniforms are acceptable. T-shirts may be worn for Sparring and Push Hands. Martial arts type shoes are required in forms and weapons divisions. Our goal is to provide a friendly but disciplined competition environment, so we ask all participants to follow the uniform guidelines.

2. Registration and Opening Ceremony:

Competitors must be present at the opening ceremony. If you plan to register onsite, do so Friday or early Saturday morning so that you will not be delayed in attending the opening ceremony. There is NO onsite registration for Sparring, Push Hands, or Partner Forms.

• Competitors should become acquainted with the competition floor layout so that they know the rings where their divisions will take place.
• Competitors must be present at ringside when their divisions are about to begin. If you have a conflict due to an event scheduled in another ring, notify the Chief Judge. We will do everything possible to see that you have a chance to compete in all your scheduled events.
• Because our goal is to expedite the flow of the competition, we may have to move divisions to adjacent rings. Please pay attention to announcements at ringside and over the loudspeaker.

Adult Competitors may register in a lower age group if they wish to compete in categories not available in higher age brackets. Please contact our office for approval. However, once you choose to compete in a lower age bracket, all your divisions must be in that bracket.

3. Order of Performance:

WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXACT TIME FOR YOUR EVENT DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPETITORS AND THE VARIATION IN THE LENGTH OF INDIVIDUAL FORMS.

The first to register is the last to go. 

Competitors will be listed according to their date of registration; the earlier your registration is submitted, the lower you will be placed on the performance list.

• Unless you are the first competitor to perform, you will receive an “on deck” call announcing your name and signaling that you should prepare to compete as soon as the competitor ahead of you clears the floor. When it is your turn to compete, you will be called by name.
• If you are not present when your name is called, two additional calls will be made over the loudspeaker. If you do not respond, you will forfeit the event. The forfeiture is final and cannot be reversed.
• Once called, competitors should stand at the call of “ready,” enter on the right side of the performance area that faces the Chief Judge, walk briskly to the starting point for their form, come to attention, and salute only the Chief Judge. No spoken presentation of your name, form, or style is permitted.

4. The salute for empty hand forms:

When called to perform, Competitors will walk to the place on the competition floor where they will begin their form and greet the Chief Judge with a recognized salute or bow. Upon being acknowledged by the Chief Judge, Competitors will return to attention and begin their form within 5 seconds.

Upon completing their form, competitors must once again come to attention and salute the Chief Judge. Competitors will wait to receive the scores, then perform one final bow toward the Chief Judge and walk off the floor.

The Open Palm and Fist Salute is widely recognized in Chinese martial arts and is the required salute for ICMAC Tournaments.

5. The salute with weapons:

All the requirements cited for the empty hand forms salute apply to the salute with weapons. In addition, each weapon has its own requirements. The salute with the staff and the spear requires the competitor to hold the weapon with the right fist covered by the left palm. The Pu Dao, Quan Dao and other long weapons also use this same salute.

The salute with the broadsword requires the competitor to hold the weapon in the left hand and cradled in the crook of the elbow. Salute by covering the hilt with the right palm. Double broadswords, other similar single-edge weapons and the three-sectional staff will also use this salute.

The salute with the straight sword requires that the sword be tucked under the left forearm. Salute by covering the hilt with the right palm. Double swords and two-handed sword will also use this salute.

6. Skill Levels:

We do not base the skill level criteria on belt or sash colors because every school has different standards and color schemes. To be fair to all competitors, our skill level criteria are based exclusively on the length of training or accumulated training. Competitors must register for all their divisions at the same skill level. 

To provide a competitive environment, we reserve the right to combine divisions with fewer than three competitors with the next closest skill level and age group. At our discretion, we may combine divisions with the next level or combine Boys and Girls, Men and Women. 

Where 3 Categories:

• Beginner: Competitors with one to less than 2 years of training
• Intermediate: Competitors with 2 to 4 years of training
• Advanced: Competitors with over 4 years of training

Where 2 Categories:

• Beginner: Competitors with less than 3 years of training
• Advanced: Competitors with 3 years of training

Where 1 Category: All skill levels

7. Competition area for forms:

8. Time limits for forms:

No Time Limits for Kids and Juniors Divisions. 

All times are given in minutes. A penalty of 0.2 points will be deducted for each infraction of 5 seconds or partial increment thereof.

• Traditional Northern Divisions & Traditional Southern Divisions – Minimum 30 seconds, Maximum 2 minutes. Minimum time does not apply to Beginners. Maximum time applies to Teens and Adults.

Wushu Forms – No Minimum time. Maximum time 2 minutes; applies to Teens only.

• Partner Forms – Maximum 2 minutes
• Xing Yi and Bagua Hand & Weapon Forms – Minimum 1 minute, Maximum 2 minutes
• Tai Chi Hand & Weapons Forms and Liuhe Bafa Hand & Weapon Forms – Minimum 3 minutes, Maximum 4 minutes (1-minute warning given at 3-minute mark). For Tai Chi and Liuhe Bafa, it may be necessary for two or more competitors to perform simultaneously.
• Tai Chi Yang Style 24 Hand Form and the standard 16 Hand Form, 16 Sword Form, and 32 Sword Form are performed to completion (no time limit). These forms MAY NOT be performed in other Tai Chi divisions and DO NOT qualify for Grand Champion. With large groups, it may be necessary for two or more competitors to perform simultaneously.

9. Penalties and deductions for forms:

Northern Long Fist: Competitors can begin their form in any quadrant of the competition ring. The form must end in the same quadrant as the starting point. Forms that end by facing opposite of the starting point will receive a .5 point deduction from the final score. Forms that do not end in the same quadrant as the starting point will result in a .2 point deduction from the final score. Interruptions caused by uncontrollable circumstances will not be penalized.

Competitors whose form does not end in the same quadrant must inform the Chief Judge before performing. In that case, no penalty will be assessed. 

The basic 32 Wushu forms are part of many traditional curriculums. The 32 Saber, 32 Staff, 32 Sword, and 32 Spear may be performed in Beginner divisions. This applies to all age groups. Wushu Weapons Divisions require the current standard weapons used in international competition (IWUF).

Re-performing due to forgetfulness will result in a .5 point deduction from the final score. This does not apply to Kids or to Beginner Juniors. Forgetting a form twice results in disqualification (Beginners get penalized 1 full point).

Over or under the required time limit results in a .2 deduction for each infraction of 5 seconds or increment thereof.

Broken weapons result in a .5 point deduction from the final score; this applies to all skill levels. A dropped weapon results in a .5 point deduction for Beginners and a 1 point deduction in all other categories. Dropping a weapon twice results in disqualification; this applies to all skill levels. Striking or cutting oneself with a weapon is a .5 point deduction for each occurrence.

All sabers and swords used in the Traditional Divisions must be of Loong Quan type steel or heavier steel; the weapon must be able to sustain its own weight when placed on its tip. This requirement does not apply to Kids divisions. No Wushu type weapons may be used in Traditional Divisions.

Deductions are made only by the Chief Judge and are deducted from the Final Score. Corner Judges must keep track of the infractions when scoring but the Penalty Deductions are implemented ONLY by the Chief Judge.

Acceptable	Unacceptable

Long Weapons such as the Quandao and Pudao are also subject to these requirements.

Weapons require a certain length in order to be used efficiently. The requirements, with few exceptions, are generally the same for Traditional and for Contemporary Wushu. The length of the weapon is determined by the competitor’s height. Non-compliance with weapon standards will result in a .5 point deduction from the final score unless otherwise specified.

1 – Saber & Swords:  The minimum length for saber and straight sword requires that the tip of the weapon reach the top of the competitor’s ear when the weapon is held at the side.

2 – Staffs and Spears: Staffs can vary in length from a minimum of the height of the competitor’s eyebrow to well over the competitor’s head. Staffs shorter than the competitor’s eyebrow fall into the Other Weapons category. In divisions where there are no Other Weapons, any length staff or stick may be used.

Spears vary in length between Traditional Northern and Southern Systems and Contemporary Wushu. For Northern Systems the spear should reach the tip of the competitor’s fingers when the arm is stretched overhead. For Southern Systems the spear can be slightly shorter but the spear tip must be above the competitor’s head. For Wushu the spearhead should be above the competitor’s fingertips when the arm is stretched overhead.

3 – Flexible and Double Weapons: All Flexible Weapons and Double Weapons fall into the Other Weapons Category unless we feature a division for these Weapons.

Traditional weapons like Double Saber, which contain ground-rolling techniques, are not bound by the two-acrobatic technique restriction. The same applies to Traditional Monkey Staff (but not to the Wushu Monkey Staff).

For Wushu, the Spearhead should be above the competitor’s fingertips when the arm is stretched overhead.

Long Weapons Category for Beginner and Intermediate includes all weapons that extend above the Competitor’s shoulders (Spear, Staff, etc).

Short Weapons for Beginners and Intermediates include Saber, Sword, Double Daggers, Short Stick, and Fan. Nunchuks are not permitted in any category.

Weapons that are not allowed for Beginners are Quandao, Double Sabers, Double Hooks, Double Swords, Chain Whip, 3-Sectional Staff, Rope Dart and other exotic weapons. If a competitor is skillful enough to compete with any of these weapons, then they cannot be considered a Beginner.

10. Forms Categories

Categories for Little Dragons (ages 6 & under), Kids (ages 7-9), and Juniors (ages 10-12): Forms include both Northern and Southern styles and may not incorporate more than one acrobatic skill.

Categories for Teens (ages 13-17): Forms include Northern and Southern styles for Beginners. For Intermediate and Advanced, Northern styles and Southern styles have separate hand and weapons divisions.

Categories for Adults: Beginner Forms divisions include Northern and Southern styles. Hand forms that incorporate more than one Acrobatic Skill must be entered in the Open Acrobatic Forms category in the Beginner or Advanced Divisions. Note that for Advanced Grand Champion competitors, Open Acrobatic Hand Forms DO NOT qualify. 

Categories for Intermediate and Advanced Adults (ages 18-35

Traditional Northern includes Long Fist styles such as Eagle Claw, Mizong, Cha Quan, Hua Quan, and Northern Shaolin Styles.

Northern Other includes styles such as Praying Mantis, Fanzi, Baji, Pigua, Tongbei, Snake Style, and other non-acrobatic styles.

Acrobatic styles such as Drunken and Monkey, and any other form that has more than one acrobatic technique (such as Butterfly Kicks, Cartwheels, Aerial Cartwheels, Kip-ups, Front and Back Handsprings, and Splits), must be entered in the Open Acrobatic Forms Category. 

Traditional Southern includes Choy Li Fut, Hung Gar, Hop Gar, Jow Gar, Southern Dragon Fist, Pak Mei, Wing Chun, Five Ancestors Fist, and similar styles. 

Partner Forms: There are separate categories for Hand and Weapons forms. Mixed teams with boys and girls, men and women are permitted. Partners must be in the same age group (ages 12 & under, 13-17, 18-35, 36 & over), and both partners must register. No onsite registration for partner forms. For exceptions or questions, please contact [email protected].

11. Awarding Medals:

12. Grand Champion Competition.

13. Taiji Push Hands (Tui Shou):

Competitors must pre-register to compete in Push Hands. No onsite registration will be accepted for Push Hands. If you register for Push Hands, you cannot also register for Sparring because both events take place at the same time. 

Fixed Step: Both feet must remain in contact with the floor at all times. Heel or toe may be raised briefly, but the foot may not leave floor or change position.

• The feet remain in the same starting position
• The front toe may be raised in yielding back
• The rear heel may be raised in shifting forward
• Any sideward movement or double placement of the foot is not permitted
• Advancing or retreating of any kind is not permitted

Restricted Step:

• For restricted-step push hands, the foot forward at the start of the round must remain forward for the duration of the round
• Either front or back foot may move, but not both at the same time
• There must be a beat between steps (no charging)
• Movement is oriented along centerline and players may not step more than 45° to either side to defend or gain advantage in pushing

Free Style:

• For free-style push hands, competitors are free to move about with either foot to defend or attack
• Joint Locks and Leg Sweeps to the front leg are allowed. In Joint Locks, the competitor applying the lock must hold the lock for a full second but also be measured in the use of force. No striking of the joint is permitted.
• A 9-foot diameter circle will be used as the competition area and points are awarded for pushing, sweeping, or locking the opponent out of the circle

The following descriptions for Competition Format, Match Area, Objective of Match, Progression of Match, etc., apply to both Fixed and Restricted Step Push Hands.

Competition format:

• All matches are single elimination
• Matches consist of two 1-minute rounds of running time unless there is an injury or a warning
• The players change leg position after the first round
• In the event of a tie, the match will be decided by a sudden-death tiebreaker: The first to score wins.

Match area:

• Two perpendicular lines form a cross at the center of the playing area
• Play begins with both players in forward stance and the ball of the right foot on the horizontal stripe
• Players’ front feet are separated by the vertical stripe that marks the centerline of the play area
• When play is stopped for any reason, players return to the starting position

Objective of match:

The objective of the match is to uproot and off-balance the opposing player while maintaining one’s own root and balance using Tai Chi principles.

Progression of match:

Play begins in a neutral position with backs of right wrists touching. Left hands are placed on (not under) the opponent’s right elbow. (Reversed in second period.)

• Players move their arms together in a horizontal circle until the referee determines that a neutral state has been established
• Players may not seek advantage at this point
• Once the Center Judge says “Begin” players must continue to play for a second or two before issuing energy
• Players unable or unwilling to begin play neutrally may be given a warning

Continuous Contact

• Players are expected to stick and adhere and may not break contact to gain advantage
• All issuing must be preceded by contact (no striking)
• Breaking contact to gain an advantage will result in a warning

Valid techniques:

Pushing, pulling with one hand, trapping techniques, non-impact techniques that cause opponent to lose balance, and single-hand grabbing techniques that cause opponent to lose balance.

Target Areas:

Contact is permitted between the hips and collarbone. The head, neck, spine, and legs may not be attacked and will result in a warning or disqualification depending on the severity of the infraction.

Scoring:

• The center judge as well as any of the corner judges may call for a point
• Points are awarded by majority judges’ decision
• One point is awarded for uprooting opponent
• A point is awarded against the opponent when a warning is called

Warnings:

• Grabbing. A one-handed pluck is a valid technique, but players may not seek to control an opponent by grabbing for longer than one second
• Wrapping hands around the back
• Grabbing clothing
• Pulling with both hands
• Striking: Any percussive contact (makes a sound) is considered a strike
• Charging: (Restricted step): Players may not take successive steps forward without pausing
• Joint Locks (Qinna). Joints may not be attacked with force
• Not following the Chief Judge’s directions

The following will result in immediate disqualification:

• Excessive and dangerous use of force
• Accumulation of 3 warnings over duration of match

14. Light-Contact Continuous Sparring

Competitors must pre-register to compete in Sparring. No onsite registration will be accepted for Sparring. If you register for Sparring, you cannot also register for Push Hands because both events take place at the same time.

For the safety of all competitors, weight limits will be enforced. Fighters will be matched with the nearest weight within each age group. The upper age limit for adults is 50.

Kids (ages 7-9): minimum 40 lbs – maximum 70 lbs
Juniors (ages 10-12): minimum 55 lbs – maximum 135 lbs
Teen Boys (ages 13-15 & 16-17): minimum 100 lbs – maximum 200 lbs
Teen Girls (ages 13-15 & 16-17): minimum 90 lbs – maximum 160 lbs
Adult Men (ages 18-50): minimum 100 lbs – maximum 250 lbs
Adult Women (ages 18-50): minimum 90 lbs – maximum 170 lbs

Mandatory Protective Equipment:

Mandatory protective equipment must be supplied by the Competitor and must include the following:

Head protector with face covering or shield
MMA-type gloves
Shin-instep guard
Mouth guard
Groin cup for men
Chest protector for women

See photos below.

Fighters who don’t have the required protective equipment will not be permitted to fight and will not be refunded their entry fees.

Competition format:

All matches are single elimination. Lose and you are eliminated. Win and you advance to the next bracket.  

Match Length (running time unless there is an injury or equipment malfunction):

• Continuous Sparring consists of three 1-minute rounds for Juniors, Teens, and Adults
• Continuous Sparring consists of three 30-second rounds for Kids
• The winner of first two rounds wins the match
• The time is stopped for injuries or equipment adjustment

Scoring:

• The winner of each round is declared by the decision of the majority of the judges
• The winner of two out of three rounds wins the match
• In case of a tie in the Kids Category, the first to score wins the match
• In case of a tie in the Juniors, Teens, & Adults Categories, there will be a 30-second sudden-death tie-breaker to determine the winner

Progression of match:

• Competitors enter the ring at the command of the Chief Judge
• Before initiating competitive sparring, competitors salute the Chief Judge and then each other
• The Chief Judge will commence the match by giving the signal to begin
• The Chief Judge directs the match with verbal signals (“begin,” “stop,” etc.)

Legal contact targets:

• Front and sides of torso
• Side of head gear
• Outer upper thigh above the knee and below the hip
• Outer lower front leg below the knee

Legal non-contact targets

• Front of face
• Groin

NOTE: The above targets require good control since any excessive contact to these areas will result in immediate disqualification.

Allowable techniques:

• Sharp, clean punches and kicks only
• Momentarily grabbing the opponent’s wrist to execute a technique
• Leg sweep to the front leg

Illegal techniques:

• Open Hand Strikes 
• Elbows
• Knees
• Blind Spinning strikes or kicks
• Joint locking
• Striking any area of the opponent’s back or groin
• Sweeping the supporting leg when the opponent is kicking
• Any blind technique

The following infractions will result in a warning:

• Purposely running out of the ring
• Use of illegal techniques
• Striking an illegal target
• Not following the Chief Judge’s directions

The following will result in immediate disqualification:

• Gouging to face area
• Heavy jarring impact force
• Bleeding that results from an illegal strike or heavy contact
• Accumulation of any 3 warnings in the match
• Unsportsmanlike conduct by Competitor, Coach or Parent

Light Contact Sparring implies that strikes and kicks must be of a tagging nature only and NOT of a jarring nature executed with heavy impact force.

All Sparring Divisions must have at least 2 competitors for a match to take place. If not, the competitors will be moved to the nearest weight class and skill level or spar in an exhibition match. We will notify you before the competition if we cannot match you with another competitor of similar weight and skill level.

15. ARBITRATION

A formal procedure must be followed when a competitor or instructor wants to launch a protest regarding a presumed discrepancy in the application of the rules.

1. Request, complete, sign, and submit the arbitration form. The form must be signed by the competitor and the instructor/coach. If the competitor is under 18 years of age a parent or legal guardian must sign the form.
2. The fee for arbitrating the dispute is $200. The fee is refunded if the dispute is settled in the competitor’s favor.
3. The arbitrator’s decision is final and will be rendered in a timely manner.

An Arbitration Official will be assigned for each tournament. Do not approach the promoter for matters pertaining to arbitration as your request will immediately be disallowed with no further recourse.